The Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi (AE-FUNAI) will on December 17, confer a posthumous doctorate award on late, ex-Biafran Leader, Philip Effiong.
The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, said this during a pre-convocation press briefing.
The school VC said the essence was to appreciate Effiong, who served as Deputy to the ex-Biafran Leader, late Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.
Nwajiuba described Effiong’s place in the nation’s history as critical which the country’s citizens needed to understand being that of reconciliation and unity.
“He marched into Dodan Baracks, Lagos on Jan.11, 1970 and officially ended any form of conflict in Nigeria which should be well appreciated.
“The charge for reconciliation and unity was re-iterated by President’s Muhammadu Buhari while receiving his Certification of Return upon re-election for a second term in office.
“The president on that day, reminded Nigerians on the need to foster brotherhood, stand on it being the core of the nation’s foundation.
He said that convocation lecture will have the theme: ‘the role of university in national unity and reconciliation and will be delivered by Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“The second recipient of the honorary doctorate award is Chief Victor Ochei, Former Delta House of Assembly Speaker as the occasion would also witness the inaugural award of post graduate degrees, diplomas among others by the university.
He said a total of 512 students would be graduating during the ceremony with 20 of them bagging first class hounors rating.
According to him, “205 students will be awarded second class upper honours, 263 with second class lower while 24 will receive third class honours.
“47 students will be graduating from the faculty of basic medical sciences, 95 from humanities, 220 from management and social sciences and 150 from the faculty of sciences.”
